Article case



Feb. 28,v 1933. J. A. cAssELL ARTICLE CASE Filed June 15 1931.

`4. Attached to the outeredge of the Vrear,

Patented Fel,A 2s,v ...19331y Mmrao; JOFl-lcaf JOHN A. cAssEL'L,,o1-innanzi; MICHIGAN, AssIGNORLTO sui'vrialuseonVL COMPANY, OFMICHIGAN, A CORPORATION yoriiucrlefnnA This invention relates to smallarticle-holding cases of the type customarilyvmade lof leather andhaving narrow sides with an open end or side,- and particularly'tocigarette and cigar cases, card cases, instrument, camera and medicinecases and portfolios. The obj ect of the inventionis the provision of anarticle` case of this character, which is composed of a minimum ofmaterial, is eas-` ily made, with little stitching, and has its sidewalls reinforced both `to strengthen the case and to facilitate thesliding of articles there` in or removal ofthe same therefrom.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, andwhile in its broader aspect` it is capable of embodiment in variousforms, one4 embodiment thereof illustratedA in the accompanying drawing,in which- Figure lis a plan of the body blankfrom which the case islmade with the reinforcing member for the bottom and ,side Vwallsattached thereto. Fig, 2 is a cigarette case embodying the inventionwith aportionof the reinforcing member broken away, land Fig. 3 is afragmentary section on the line 3-3inFig.2. Y

A case embodying the invention is composed of two pieces of material,one constituting the body blank l, and the other thereinforcing Vstrip12. The blankY lis composed yof the` front and rea-r panel portions 3and 4, which are joinedtogether at their adjacent edges by a bottomedgepanel 5 corresponding in length to the width of the panels 3 andpanel 4, preferably integral therewith, is a fiap 6 adapted to extendover and to close the upper open end of the case when the blank 4 -isfolded up to form a case. Each side edge of the panels 3 and 4 is formedwith extensions or side wings 7, which are coextensive in llength withthe lengths of said panels and in Vwidth yare substantially thethickness of the case from frontto' rear, thus adapting the extensions 7at the same edges ofthe front vand rear panels 3 4and 4to haveedge-abutment with each other when the panels are folded upward inparallel relation, and the extensions are turned inward-at right anglesythereto. In other words, when the panels arev 1931.s611111,iva.,544,335.2`

foldedy in. parallel relationand the edgelexftensions 7 thereof ,arelturnedinward, suchy edge extensions cooperate to form'the narrow sidesof thecase, which sides correspond in widthf to the -width `ofthe bottompanely 5.

. The reinforcingy strip .24 is secured .in any suitable"4 manner,`preferahlyfby sewing, cen. t1-ally of its ends-tothe outer or bottomside of the bottom panel 5 lengthwise thereof,^an`dY when the front andback panels 3 and=4 and ytheside extensions 7 thereof have been foldedin case-forming relation,lthe end portions ofl :the strip 2, whichproject beyond rtheends of Athe bottomy panelv 5, are .fold'edrupl alongthe ,respective sides of the case formedby the extensionV 7 and yfirmlysecured thereto, preferably by gluing, lso as to maintain Lthe adjoin-'i surfaces of the side walls,beii1gfpreferably It .is apparent that thestrip'i'2 not only serves to, strengthen, stifen and reinforce thebottom panel 5,but`alsoto jointhe adjacent extensions togetherr and toprovide a double reinforcement and 'stifeningQmeans for the sides fofthecase,'as is apparent by referencey to Fig 3.- The extension ofthe endportions 'o f'the" strip 2 downy into thefcaseat the lsides 'thereofrenders-the inner vsurfacesof the sides smooth to vfacilitate theinsertion of articles into and removaly thereof from the'rcase. e

l When the case 'has beenlformed up jthe extension 6 on the outer'up'peredge ofthe 'rearypanel 4, providesua closure flap" for thek openrk `endof thec'ase, and is sufficient inllength to extend',k over the top openend of thecase f '90 anda' distance down the front side thereof,

to which latter' itis detachably secured,` in

any suitablemanner. In the present instance, f

the free Aendr of the flap''is inserted between a strap 8 and the,yfront side of the case, said strap extending lacross kthefront side of`the y case and having its endsy secured to the adjacent edge extensions7 by'stitching, or in any otherA suitablekmanner, as shown in Fig.,1.kv.y

The stitchedends of the strap 8 are disposed` between the case sides andthe strip 2 so that such ends are not exposed.

It is apparent that if the strap 8 is disregarded, the ease is composedof only two pieces, namely, the-body blank 1 and the reinforcing strip2, and that after the forming of the body blank, the strip 2 is securedto the bottom 5 and to the sides formed by the adjoining extensions 7 ina simple and inexpensive manner, as, for instance, by stitching thestrip midway of its ends to the bottom l5 and then cementing or gluingthe same to the y outer and inner surfaces of the oase sides.

The employment of the strip 2"to connect and reinforce the bottom andsides of the case, not only gives a finished and pleasing appear-V ance,but Vmaterially strengthens the oase against collapsing.

l wish it understood that myinvention is not limited to any specificconstructions, arrangement or form of the parts,'as it is capable ofnumerous modificationsl and changes its ends projecting up along therespective sides of the case and thence down into the case substantiallyto the bottom thereof and secured to said sides to unite and stiften theextensions forming the saine, a strap extendingacross the front paneland having its ends lapping the side edge extensions of said panel andsecured thereto between said reinforcing strip and such extension, and aclosure flap extending from the outer edge of the rear panel and adaptedto be extendedover the open end of the case and inserted between thefront panel `and said strap.

In; testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

i ,v f JOHN A. GASSELL.

without departing from the spiritv of the Y claims.V e

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United tates Letters" Patent is:

1. A case of `the class described, having yconnected front, backandbottom panels, the

front and back panels having extensions at their side edges cooperatingto formthe case e tially edge-abutment, a reinforcing strip attachedtowthe outer surface ofthebottom panel and extending lengthwise thereofwith its ends projecting up along the respective sides of the .case andthence down into the case substantially to the bottom thereof andsecured inside and out to said sides to unite and stiii'en theextensionsforming the same.

2. A oase ofthe class described, having .connected front, back andbottom panels, the front and back panels having extensions at their sideedges cooperating to form the case sides with the adjacent extensions insubstanf tially edge abutment, a reinforcingV strip attached to theouter surface of the `bottom panel and extending lengthwise thereof withits ends projecting up along the respective sides of thecase and thencedown into the case .substantially to the bottom thereof and secured tosaid sides to unite and stiften the Y,

'their side edges cooperating to form the case sides with the adjacentextensions in substantially edge abutment, a reinforcing strip at tachedto the outer surface of the bottom 'sides with the adjacent extensionsin substanpanel and extending lengthwise thereof with

